Sink

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10337178-B2
Application number	US-201715662941-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2017
Priority date	Jul 28, 2016
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A sink having at least one bowl with a bottom wall and a circumferential side wall, with an outlet opening in the bottom wall. First and second rectilinear grooves are provided in the side wall that extend toward the bottom wall. A plate-shaped divider fits into the first and second grooves in watertight manner. The divider has a peripheral edge with first and second portions that engage the first and second grooves, respectively, and a third portion located between the first and second portions contacts the bottom wall. A gasket is arranged on the edge in the first through third portions having three seal beads. First and second seal beads are arranged on first and second opposite lateral side of the edge of the divider, respectively, and a third seal bead is arranged on the peripheral edge between the first and second seal beads.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sink ( 1 ), comprising:
at least one bowl ( 2 ) with a bottom wall ( 3 ) and a circumferential side wall ( 4 );
an outlet opening ( 3 a , 3 b ) located in said bottom wall ( 3 );
a first rectilinear groove ( 5 ) in said side wall ( 4 ), said first groove ( 5 ) extending toward said bottom wall ( 3 );
a second rectilinear groove ( 6 ) in said side wall ( 4 ) opposite said first groove ( 5 ), said second groove ( 6 ) extending toward said bottom wall ( 3 );
a plate-shaped divider ( 9 ) that fits into said first ( 5 ) and second grooves ( 6 ) in watertight manner, said divider ( 9 ) having a peripheral edge ( 9 b ), a first portion ( 9 c ) of which is adapted to engage said first groove ( 5 ), a second portion ( 9 d ) of which is adapted to engage said second groove ( 6 ), and a third portion ( 9 e ) of which, located between said first ( 9 c ) and second portions ( 9 d ), is adapted to come into contact with said bottom wall ( 3 );
at least one gasket ( 10 ) arranged on said edge in said first through third portions ( 9 c - 9 e ) of the divider, said gasket ( 10 ) comprising first, second, and third seal beads ( 10 a - 10 c ), the first seal bead ( 10 a ) being arranged on a first lateral side ( 9 h ) of said edge ( 9 b ) of said divider ( 9 ) in said first through third portions of the divider, the second seal bead being arranged on a second lateral side ( 9 i ) of said edge ( 9 b ) of said divider ( 9 ) in said first through third portions ( 9 c - 9 e ) of the divider, said second lateral side ( 9 i ) facing away from said first lateral side ( 9 b ), and the third seal bead ( 10 c ) being arranged on said peripheral edge ( 9 b ) between said first ( 10 a ) and second seal beads ( 10 b ), at least in said third portion ( 9 e ) of said peripheral edge ( 9 b );
said third seal bead ( 10 c ) is of different shape than said first ( 10 a ) and second seal beads ( 10 b ), and is at least partially formed as a triangular prism ( 10 c ″) in cross-section with an apex ( 10 c ′″) of the triangular prism facing away from said peripheral edge ( 9 b ).

2. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein
said first ( 10 a ) and second seal beads ( 10 b ) have a circular or oval cross section.

3. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein
the first lateral side ( 9 h ) of said edge ( 9 b ) comprises a first beveled surface that faces outwardly toward the first and second grooves, and the second lateral side ( 9 i ) of said edge ( 9 b ) comprises a second beveled surface that faces outwardly toward the first and second grooves, said first seal bead ( 10 a ) and said second seal bead ( 10 b ) being arranged on the first and second beveled surfaces ( 9 h ′, 9 i ′), respectively.

4. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein
at least the third seal bead ( 10 c ) of the gasket ( 10 ) is made of silicone.

5. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising
a first bead ( 7 a ) arranged in said side wall ( 4 ) in a vicinity of said first groove ( 5 ), extending orthogonally with respect to said first groove ( 5 ), and a second bead ( 8 a ) arranged in said side wall ( 4 ) in a vicinity of said second groove ( 6 ), extending orthogonally with respect to said second groove ( 6 ), said first ( 7 a ) and second beads ( 8 a ) being located on a same side of the divider ( 9 ), when said divider ( 9 ) is fitted into said first ( 5 ) and second grooves ( 6 ), and said first ( 7 a ) and second beads ( 8 a ) being located at least one of at a same distance from an upper edge ( 4 a ) of said bowl ( 2 ) or in a common horizontal plane in an installed state of the sink ( 1 ).

6. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , further comprising an additional first bead and an additional second bead, wherein the additional first bead and the additional second bead are located on opposite sides of the divider ( 9 ) from the first bead and the second bead, when said divider ( 9 ) is fitted into said first ( 5 ) and second grooves ( 6 ).

7. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein
said first bead ( 7 a ) and second bead ( 8 a ) are adapted to support a sink accessory ( 12 ).

8. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the sink accessory is a cutting board or a strainer supported on the first and second beads.

9. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising an additional outlet opening in the bottom wall, wherein the additional outlet opening is located on an opposite side of the divider ( 9 ) from the outlet opening, when said divider ( 9 ) is fitted into said first ( 5 ) and second grooves ( 6 ).

10. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein
said divider ( 9 ) is made of a plastic or synthetic material, or of metal.

11. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein
said divider ( 9 ) has two distinct sides, each comprising at least one of a different material composition or a different color.

12. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein
said divider ( 9 ) comprises a grip or a gripping hole ( 9 a ) in proximity to a fourth portion ( 9 f ) of the peripheral edge ( 9 b ), said fourth portion located opposite said third portion ( 9 e ).

13. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein
said bowl ( 2 ) tapers toward said bottom wall ( 3 ), and said side wall ( 4 ) including said first ( 5 ) and second grooves ( 6 ) is inclined by 2 to 3 degrees.

14. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein
said bottom wall ( 3 ) has an elevated portion ( 3 c ), said elevated portion ( 3 c ) extending between said first groove ( 5 ) and said second groove ( 6 ).

15. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein
said divider ( 9 ) presents a complementary cross section to the first groove ( 5 ) and the second groove ( 6 ), at least along the peripheral edge ( 9 b ) in said first ( 9 c ) and second portions ( 9 d ).

16. The sink ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein
said bowl ( 2 ) is at least one of different shape or size on respective sides of said first ( 5 ) and second grooves ( 6 ) or on respective sides of the divider ( 9 ), when said divider ( 9 ) is fitted into said first ( 5 ) and second grooves ( 6 ).

Assignees

• Franke Technology & Trademark

Inventors

• Bomatter Christian W
• Neeser Rolf
• Maier Tobias

Classifications

• E03C1/18 Primary

  Sinks, whether or not connected to the waste-pipe · CPC title

• E03C1/186 Primary

  Separate partition walls, lids, protecting borders, or the like, for sinks · CPC title

• F16J15/10

  with non-metallic packing · CPC title

• A47J47/20

  Grids, racks or other supports removably mounted in, on or over sinks (splash guards for sinks E03C1/181, E03C1/186) · CPC title